| Scunthorpe Scorpions | |||||||||||||||||
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| Track address | Eddie Wright Raceway Normanby Road Scunthorpe North Lincolnshire DN15 8QZ | ||||||||||||||||
| Country | England | ||||||||||||||||
| Founded | 1972 | ||||||||||||||||
| Promoter | Rob Godfrey | ||||||||||||||||
| Team manager | David Howe | ||||||||||||||||
| Team captain | Simon Lambert | ||||||||||||||||
| League | SGB Championship National Development League | ||||||||||||||||
| Website | scunthorpe-speedway | ||||||||||||||||
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| Colours | White and Red | ||||||||||||||||
| Track size | 285 metres (312 yd) | ||||||||||||||||
| Track record time | 55.18 seconds | ||||||||||||||||
| Track record date | 5 September 2014 | ||||||||||||||||
| Track record holder | Nicolai Klindt | ||||||||||||||||
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TheScunthorpe Scorpions are amotorcycle speedway team in the BritishSGB Championship. They have raced at various times since 1971, at three different venues.[1]
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Speedway in Scunthorpe began on 3 May 1971 at theQuibell Park Stadium (an athletics stadium and velodrome).[2] The inaugural season consisted primarily of a team known as theScunthorpe Saints, who raced a series of challenge meetings at the stadium.[3]
The following year in 1972, the team joined the British league system, when they competed in the1972 British League Division Two season but finished bottom of the table.[4] Changes were made for 1973, with promoter Brian Osborn bringing in multiple new signings includingKen McKinlay.[5] The Saints continued to race in the second tier of British speedway, which from 1975 was known as the National League. However, the seasons were disappointing with the team struggling at the foot of the table.
Major changes took place during 1979, the first being a change of venue toAshby Ville Stadium.[6] Promoter Brian Osborn was forced to find a new home following issues with the athletics club and North Lincolnshire council over track conditions.[7] In conjunction with the move, the Saints also changed their name from the Saints to the Stags.[8]
The team continued to compete in the second division and continued to produce moderate results, only managing a best finish of 5th place during the1983 National League season. Riders came and went and in the Summer of 1984 the promotion was taken over by Tony Nicholls, who had plans to expand Ashby Ville.[9]
For the start of the 1985 season,Eric Boothroyd was brought in as the new team manager. Events began to deteriorate when the captainRob Woffinden was injured and the team suffered heavy losses. Tony Nicholls then revealed financial losses[10] and the team were disbanded in May 1985.[11][12]
A team known as theScunthorpe Scorpions appeared in a couple of fixtures during 2003, which subsequently led to a search for a track.[13] The North Lincolnshire Council offered a 10-acre plot of land on Normanby Road and work began on creating a new venue. Promoters Rob Godfrey and Norman Beeney opened the track for practice in 2004 before the first meeting was held on 27 March 2005, ending a twenty-year absence. The Scorpions took their place in division 3 (the2005 Speedway Conference League).
The following season the Scorpions signedTai Woffinden andJosh Auty and the Scorpions won their first silverware, winning the playoffs after finishing second in the regular season table. The team also won the Knockout Cup to win the double, in addition to the Conference Trophy and pairs championship. The2007 Speedway Conference League resulted in a second successive league and cup double, the Conference Trophy and fours event. The team was inspired by Tai Woffinden, who would later become a three times world champion.
After three successful years in the Conference League the side were accepted into thePremier League (division 2) for 2008, but lost Tai Woffinden to Rye House. However they did achieve a mid-table finish in 2008 and 2009. The club also introduced a junior side called the Saints (after the original name of the club) who would continue riding in theConference League and later theNational League with the main aim to develop riders for the Premier League side.
In 2012, the Scorpions won their highest honour to date, winning the2012 Premier League after defeating the Somerset Rebels 92-91 on aggregate in the play off final.[14] The team includedNick Morris, Josh Auty,Thomas Jørgensen,David Howe andMichael Palm Toft. In 2017, the Premier League became theSGB Championship.
Following a season lost to theCOVID-19 pandemic, the Scorpions continued to race in the second tier Championship, entering their 15th season in the division in 2023.
In 2023, spearheaded byRyan Douglas, the Scorpions created a shock by winning theSGB Championship Knockout Cup, defeating favouritesPoole Pirates 92-88 on aggregate in the final.[15]
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2007 team
2008 team
2008 team (juniors)
2009 team Also rode: 2009 team (juniors)
2010 team Number eight rider: 2015 team 2016 team Also rode: 2017 team Also rode: Replaced the injured Fritz Wallner 2019 team 2021 team Also Rode: 2022 team Also Rode: 2023 team Also Rode: |
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